Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Beguiling aromas of brandied cherries, rose hips, tea, violets and seasoned oak. Delicious black raspberry and cherry sappy flavors on a medium weight frame complimented by hints of exotic spice and fruit leather. The most intense, deeply fruited and structured wine of the three, more opaque than see-through lingerie. The aromatic peacock tail on the finish is notable for its length. Even better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. A very special wine.

Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy aromas of black raspberry, dried cherries, and brioche. Discreetly concentrated flavors of black cherries, blueberries and bramble caressed by ripe, finegrain tannins, persisting on the slightly tart cherry pie finish. Sleek, elegant and refined, weaving a stylish dance ever so lightly on the palate.

Like an old style Burgundy with flint and dried apple character. Walnuts too. Some clarified butter. Full body, with fresh acidity and a creamy finish. Drink now

Fresh, clean and alive with citrus and tropical fruit; juicy, ripe and balanced with lots of charm and depth.

It is not that we have anything against unoaked Chardonnay, it is just there are too few that are particularly well-made, but every so often a bright and zesty version comes along to make a good case for the genre. This is just such a wine. Nicely fruited and hinting at half-candied citrus with a strong streak of green apples giving varietal direction, it is a refreshing change of pace from the too-serious set, and it is priced quite enticingly.

Briary and zesty, offering appealing cherry and herb aromas, with crisp plum, anise and pepper flavors. Tannins sneak in on the finish.

This likeable wine counts cleanliness, good balance and a bit of lightly oaked fruit among its modest assets, but its slight lack of richness and depth holds it back from the big leagues. All the same, it is easy to drink, it is affordable and there is a lot of it, and it will find useful service with a wide range of foods from chicken to fish.

Mildly fruit, mildly oaky...this mid-sized working turns to crispness as its slightly candied fruit flavors firm up. Its zesty imperatives steer it to service with milder seafoods, but it will do fine service with poultry in cream sauce as well.

This is a lovely, elegant Merlot for drinking now and over the next several years. It's dry and smooth, with dusty tannins framing cherry, red currant, herb, olive and cedar flavors.

Shows plenty of Cabernet character in the blackberry and black currant flavors, enhanced with oak, and the firm tannins. A good wine...

This is an elegantly constructed wine. It's not especially rich, but subtle in citrus fruit, roasted nut, jasmine, vanilla and oak flavors, brightened with notable acidity.

The nice thing about many California sauvignons is their luscious textures, so soft and pillowy that they coax along food flavors instead of fight them.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain (from Spring Mountain Vineyard) is a big, super-ripe wine laced with racy red cherries, rose petals, dried flowers and licorice. It possesses striking inner perfume and fabulous length. The tannins in particular are especially refined for this appellation.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain (from the Von Strasser Vineyard) is a gorgeous wine. It bursts onto the palate with an exciting melange of dark red fruit, mint and licorice. It is an intensely spicy, focused wine with plenty of Diamond Mountain tannins that come through. Tar, smoke and licorice are some of the notes that inform the energetic, vibrant finish.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as gorgeous and round in its expressive dark red and black fruit, earthiness, menthol, spices and graphite. The firm Howell Mountain tannins are there, but the presence of Merlot (12%) helps to soften the wine. This is a gorgeous showing from La Jota and winemaker Chris Carpenter.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard is quite a bit more structured than the Bosche. Menthol, pine, spices, licorice and dark red cherries are nicely layered in this powerful, rich wine. Hints of smoke and tar add gravitas on the powerful finish. The Sycamore Vineyard could prove to be a long-lived wine. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.

The 2009 Cardinale is a gorgeous, beautifully balanced wine endowed with gorgeous textural finesse and depth. Dark red fruit, spices and mint are woven together beautifully in this supple, engaging wine. Bright floral notes add lift, freshness and vibrancy on the finish. There is enough finesse to make the 2009 approachable early, but also enough richness to suggest the wine will drink early for a number of years. Winemaker Chris Carpenter creates the blend from a number of vineyards, including Veeder Peak, La Jota, Spring Mountain, Andrew-Geoffrey and Clem Cardinalli. In 2009 the final blend is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot, predominantly from hillside sites, aged in 100% new French oak barrels. This is a remarkable level of quality considering the 1,300-case production. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder (from Veeder Peak) flows onto the palate with layers of dark, mineral-infused fruit. Graphite, cassis, blackberries, spices and new leather are some of the nuances that take shape in the glass. This is at once open and approachable, but also quite intense and mineral.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Highland Estates is a fabulous wine. Dark red fruit, mint, spices, menthol and licorice meld together beautifully in this finessed, elegant wine. The black fruit has wonderful depth and more than enough purity to balance the tannins. This is a promising wine loaded with character and personality. The Highland Estates is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Veeder Peak aged in French oak, 80% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard is a round, inviting wine. Layers of soft red fruit, spices, savory herbs and licorice flow from this plush Cabernet. Despite the intensity of its fruit, the wine has plenty of underlying structure. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2028.

The 2009 Merlot is intense, juicy and beautifully balanced. A burst of dark, juicy fruit is followed by mint, pine, spices and licorice as the flavors build to the finish. Clean layers of minerality and sweet notes from the new French oak frame the exceptionally polished finish.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as quite soft and lush for a Mt. Veeder wine. Dark red fruit, flowers, mint and crushed rocks are some of the notes that flow through to the intense, saline finish. I especially like the energy and drive here.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (from Keyes Vineyard) is a big, broad shouldered wine loaded with black fruit, smoke and licorice. Chocolate, blackberries, cinnamon, licorice and spices are wrapped around the plush, muscular finish.

The 2009 Stature is a deep, fleshy wine graced with supple dark red fruit, flowers, sweet spices and licorice. This is a radiant, approachable style, but there is lovely minerality and focus from the presence of several high-altitude sites that suggests the wine will drink well for a number of years. The blend is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec, mostly sourced from Stagecoach, Veeder and Keyes. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.

The 2008 Josephine comes across as understated and quite pretty. Ripe red fruits, flowers, spices are some of the notes that are woven together in this subtle, understated wine. Josephine is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 9% Malbec. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2028.